Attachment for music sheets



May 29, 1923.

. 1,456,870 M. M. BROWN ATTACHMENT FOR MUSIG'SHEETS Filed May 31 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwemtoz MMzi-rown 61am 01, o

May 29, 1923.

M. M. BROWN ATTACHMENT FOR MUSIC SHEETS Filed May 31 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwemtoz B 1'0 urn wane/as Yew,

I fitter/neg a Patented May 29, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY M. BROWN, 01? ELBERTON, GEORGIA.

1' i ATTACHMENT FOR MUSIC SHEETS.

Application filed May 31,

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARY M. BROWN, citizen of the United States, residing at Elberton, in the county of Elbert and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Music Sheets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains, to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel device intended to be attached to one or more leaves in a music instruct-ion book for begin ners, and it has for its principal object to devise a novel way of teaching persons time and how to read the notes rapidly and correctly.

Broadly, it is another object of the invention to provide a device of this class which embodies among other details, a hor izontally movable indicator which is adapted to be positioned over and successively moved from left to right along the line or staff of the music to indicate the notes that have been read and played and to enable the reader to readily determine the next note to be read.

More specifically, it is a further object of the invention to employ a device of this class embodying the aforesaid horizontally shiftable indicator which is of a width to coverone or more notes, thereby enabling the indicator to function as a shield to cover several of the notes already read and to thus overcome the possibility of permitting the scholar to twice read the same notes.

In addition to the above, it is a further object of the invention to devise novel mounting means for the movable indicator, wherein the mounting means is itself vertically movable to permit it to be positioned over the succeeding lines of music for the purpose of directing the scholars eyes to the notes on the line over which the mounting means is positioned.

Still another object of the inventionis to provide a device of this class which embodies a rigid sectional frame between the sections of which the leaves of the music are clamped, this arrangement permitting the device to serve the additional function of a brace for the leaves to prevent them from drooping when supported on the ledge of the piano or music stand.

.Other objects and advantages and fea- 1921. Serial NO. 473,604.

tures of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the instruction book with the improved attachment in operative position thereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the book and track.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the track member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the shield.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the front section of the frame.

Referring to the drawings by numerals. 1 designates a frame made up offront and rear sections 2 and 3, hinged or otherwise pivotally connected together, as indicated at 4. It is to be noted that the front section 2 is formed with a relatively large opening 5 through which the notes and lines of music are exposed to enable them to be read and it is understood that the hinged sections of the frames are intended to be clamped over the desired leaf or leaves of an instruction book A as indicated. If desired, the front section may be equipped with a pivotally mounted clip 6 of any suitable construction for retaining the frame sections together and on opposite sides of the page of music.

It has already been intimated that I as sociate with the frames, a horizontal shiftable indicator, the same being indicated by the numeral 7. While this indicator could be of any construction, it is preferably in the form of a loop which is of considerable width to enable it to have the additional function of serving as a shield to cover a plurality of notes. Any suitable mounting means may be associated with the indicator. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown a vertically movable track 8 embodyingspaced longitudinal bars 9 on which the aforesaid loop or indicator 7 ishorizontally slidable. This track is provided at its opposite ends with hooks 10, which are designed to take over the vertical edges of the front section 2 of the frame. In order to prevent the hooks from possibly tearing the page, against which they slide, and in order to retain their outer faces flush with the rear face of the section 2. the latter may be provided along its vertical edges and in its rear face with vertical channels 11 for reception of the hooks. As before sire gested, this construction permits the track and indicator to be positioned over the top staff 0r line of music and be used downward 1y over the succeeding lines at intervals as the notes are read. It has been before indicated that this is advantageous since it serves to direct the students eyes to the proper line of music and prevents the-same line of notes from being read over again. It may be stated at this point. that any suitable means may be employed to retain the track in the various positions to which it has been moved. In the present instance. it is to be supposed that the hooks on the track engage the front section of the frame Sllillciently tight to frictionally retain the track in various positions without employing any special means.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the sections of the frame have been clamped on the desirec leaf of music of the instructiorrboolr is shown. and the track and indicator are positioneo over thetop line of music with the indi cator at the extreme left-hand end of the track so as not'to interfere with any of the notes, the teacher, by means of a pointer or pencil, will engage the indicator 7 and move it successively along the line out music, covering each note that has been played so that the student will be enabled to determine just whatnote should be played next. In this way, the studentcannot dwell too long on the same note. The device will thus be found helpful in teaching time and enabling the student to read at sight with great facility and case. After all of the notes on the top line have been read. the tract 8 is moved down and positioned over the next succeeding line and the operation repeated. It may well be stated at this point that the indicator and shield can be operated by a childs parents if desired, by making use of a metronome. To explain, the'metrononie w'll indicate the value of the note and the operator may move the indicator to the next note to be read assisted" by the audible sounds of the metronome: The indicator could, of course, be actuated in anyother way or by any suit able mechanism.

It is clear from thedrawings and description that I have evolved and produced a unique'device for attachn'ient to one or more of the leaves of a music instruction book for enabling beginners to learn to 1. music rapidly and at sight. it is well known hat it is quite diflicultfor beginners, especially children, to concentrate their eyes on the proper note without easily losing the plac and there is a great tendency of small children repeating; notes which they have already read and played. This disadvantage can be entirely overcome by utilizing; a device of this character and moving the indicator in a manner to cover the notes which have been read and to in dicate the notes which are to be read. It is also common for music students to en counter much difliculty in rapidly jumping from the right end of the line to the op posite end of the following line. However, by employment of the movable track, a rapid change can soon be acquired. because the notes over which the track is placed are the only ones to be read and played. These and other advantages and features of the invention have doubtless been made apparent frointhe description when taken in con nection with the drawings. 'lherefore. a more lengthy and detailed description is thought unnecessary.

Advantageous and effective results are doubtless insured by the construction and arrangement herein shown. However, the various elements and manner in which they coact with one another may be'varied within the'scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device for teaching; persons how to read music comprising a frame composed of pair of pivotally connected sections. the front section having an opening of sufficient size to permit the notes to be seen therethrough. a vertically shiftable track extending crosswise of said front section. said track having hooks at its ends slidably cngaging the vertical edges of said sections. and an indicator slidably mminted on tho track for co-operation with the aforesaid notes.

2. The structure defined in claim 11. wherein the inner faces of the vertical side portions of the front section of the fraiz'e are formed with grooves in which said hooks are received, said grooves being of a depth to render the surfaces of the hooks flush with said inner faces.

A devic of the class described includ ing a track having an elongated opening through which notes of music may be exposed and having inturned support-enga; r-- ing hooks at its ends, and a non-transparent flattened sleeve slidable on said track and serving both as a shield and an indicator.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MAMIE M. BROWN. 

